The Pew Charitable Trusts - State and Consumer Initiatives from Missouri

Foreign Law Bans: Political Statement or Unconstitutional?

State lawmakers are focused on keeping U.S. courts away from the influence of foreign law. But does banning all foreign law go too far?

Cheers! All 50 States Embrace the Home Brew Boom

As of July 1, all 50 states will allow aspiring brewers to make their own beer at home. But states are still figuring out how to regulate the popular hobby.

States Rack Up Victories in Bids to Collect Online Sales Taxes

After more than a decade of trying, state officials think they may get to collect billions of dollars of taxes on online sales soon. Find out why.

30 Cities: An Introductory Snapshot

Pew recently updated its 30-city snapshot interactive, with new data on population, home values, income and unemployment. Pew's American Cities Project focuses on the biggest city in the nation's 30 largest metro areas.

Proposals Would Shift Utility Infrastructure Costs to Ratepayers

Electricity and gas bills could creep higher in several states, as lawmakers consider whether to allow utilities to charge customers upfront for upgrades to aging infrastructure.

Governors Ask Lawmakers to Prevent Future Shootings

The recent mass shootings in Colorado and Connecticut reshaped governors’ legislative agendas this year, and many used their once-a-year legislative addresses to ask lawmakers to take up gun control, mental health treatment and school safety.

Gas Tax Loses Favor as Governors Look for New Transportation Money

In the search for more transportation money, governors and state lawmakers are largely avoiding one of the most obvious and straightforward funding sources: state gasoline taxes.

Missouri State of the State Address 2013

COLUMBIA, Missouri Jan. 28 Following is the prepared text for Gov. Jay Nixon's (D) 2013 State of the State Address

Falling Short on Dental Sealants: Missouri

How well is Missouri protecting kids from tooth decay?

Best of #StateReads: Washington State Loses Women and Latino Lawmakers

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

To Raise Revenue, Raise Tobacco Taxes, Kentucky Commission Says

Kentucky’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform recommended the state increase its cigarette tax from 60 cents to $1 per pack, along with a proportional hike on other forms of tobacco.

The Impact of the Fiscal Cliff: Missouri

Federal and state finances are closely intertwined, and the fiscal cliff’s tax and spending provisions will have consequences for states.

Super-Sized Majorities Shift Legislative Power

After he was reelected by a comfortable margin on Tuesday, Democrat Jay Nixon will serve four more years as governor of Missouri. Whether he’ll really be leading the state, however, is open to debate. Even as Nixon was winning, Missouri Republicans triumphed in enough legislative races to secure a veto-proof two-th

Republicans Win Big in North Carolina Governor’s Race But Struggle Elsewhere

Despite heavy spending by outside groups in nearly a dozen races for governor, the partisan mix of Democrats and Republicans leading states appeared to change only slightly as a result of Tuesday’s elections.

Still Risky: Checking Accounts in Missouri

Checking accounts, the most widely used financial product in America, contain hidden risks that can harm consumers. Four of the 12 largest banks nationwide offer checking accounts in Missouri and hold 24 percent of all deposits in the state. Here’s what consumers in Missouri may be paying.

Public Safety in Missouri

Learn more about public safety in Missouri.

Elections Decided by One Vote are Rare—But Not Unheard of

While past research shows it is rare for elections to be decided by one vote, residents casting ballots in Missouri’s August Democratic primary for the 87th State Representative District now find themselves in just that situation.

Democrats Play Defense in Governors’ Races

The race for New Hampshire governor has the hallmarks of the biggest gubernatorial races this fall: heavy involvement from outside groups, a national contest stealing the spotlight and messages that echo themes from this year’s presidential campaigns.

Religious Liberty Emerges as Sensitive Political Issue

Freedom of religion is a universal American ideal, but there is growing disagreement about just what it means.

Best of #StateReads: Kentucky Judges Review Child-Abuse List

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Even in Hard Times, States Find It Difficult To Recruit Talent

As state government hiring picks back up, competing with the private sector for highly skilled workers is becoming a challenge for some agencies.

In Kansas Primary, Results Could Advance Governor’s Agenda

On a busy primary day in four states, conservatives in Kansas are looking to oust moderate Republicans, freeing up room for the governor to push his ambitious agenda.

Nine States Where Lenders Take Your Paycheck

Payday loans — small, short term loans secured against a customer’s next paycheck — are highly controversial. A new study from Pew Charitable Trusts explains that opponents believe the practice “preys” on people who, because of the high interest rates

Best of #StateReads: California Mental Health Money Spent Elsewhere

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Infographic: S&P State Credit Ratings, 2001–2012

Private, independent credit rating agencies evaluate states’ financial health. States with the lowest grades typically have trouble keeping their spending in line with their tax revenues.

Widening Gap Update: Missouri

Missouri failed to consistently pay its full annual pension contribution from 2005 to 2010. The system was 77 percent funded in fiscal year 2010 and faced a $13 billion funding gap.

Time Served in Missouri

The average offender in Missouri released in 2009 served 2.1 years in custody, 14% less than the average offender released in 1990.

Best of #StateReads: Inside Deals for Louisiana Oil Leases Last Decades

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Editorial: Legislature Takes Small, but Important Step Toward Prison Reform

Missouri legislators have passed a bill that would reduce prison populations slightly by streamlining probation and parole operations throughout the state, giving more control to county officials and reducing the number of parole violators sent to prison.

Bill to Trim Missouri's Prison Population Clears Legislature

The Missouri Legislature passed and sent to the governor today a bill that aims to gradually reduce the state's prison population by strengthening community supervision for nonviolent offenders.

Are Sex Offense Laws Too Broad?

Minor misconduct by a teenager can land someone on a sex offender list for life. Some legislators think that’s inappropriate.

Fate of Ballot Measures Often Depends on the Wording

When a proposal comes before the voters, somebody has to produce the ballot language describing it. Sometimes, the people who write that language have other priorities than simply making it clear.

Limbaugh Furor Reaches Missouri

TODAY'S TAKE: A debate is raging over a plan by the speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives to install a bronze bust of radio host Rush Limbaugh in the Capitol.

More States Consider Diverting Foreclosure Money

TODAY'S TAKE: Officials in a growing number of states are considering diverting money from a $25 billion foreclosure settlement between big banks and attorneys general to help pay for programs that have nothing to do with housing.

Will States Use Foreclosure Money for Other Purposes?

ECONOMY & BUSINESS BEAT: The vast majority of the $25 billion foreclosure settlement that state attorneys general finalized with big banks on Thursday (February 9) will go to distressed homeowners. But states could use as much as $2.6 billion of it in other ways.

States Try to Help Veterans Find Jobs

With U.S forces out of Iraq and combat troops slated to leave Afghanistan in 2013, states are readying for an influx of returning troops who will be looking for work.

Three States to Weigh in on Republican Candidates

TODAY'S TAKE: It's not quite "Super Tuesday," but today (February 7) marks the first day of the 2012 presidential campaign that will see more than one state cast ballots.

Primaries Dispatch: Thousands of Military and Overseas Ballots Already Cast in Upcoming Elections

With primaries fast approaching, election officials in South Carolina, Florida, and Missouri have been busy sending ballots to military and overseas voters, as required by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and in accordance with the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act of 2009.

Missouri State of the State Address 2012

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri. - Jan. 17 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Jay Nixon's (D) 2012 state of the state address: Legislative leaders, Judges of the Missouri Supreme Court, Lieutenant Governor Kinder, state officials, members of the General Assembly, members of my cabinet, and my fellow Miss

St. Louis Makes Progress Reducing Duplicate Voter Registrations

As of late June 2011, the City of St. Louis had significantly decreased the number of potential duplicate voter registrations on its rolls, according to the Missouri State Auditor. An auditor’s report released in December 2011 found 2,400 duplicates, down from more

Election Websites: Missouri

Being Online Is Still Not Enough provides state-by-state reviews and analysis based on detailed criteria of election websites for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Food Banks Drawing Statewide Attention

SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: Emergency food banks are attracting increased interest from state officials this year, but what many of them would like is more money.

Special Sessions: A Calculated Risk

The legislative year ended for most states during the summer, but special sessions are bringing many lawmakers back to their capitals. The success of such sessions can depend on the behind-the-scenes deal-making that precedes them.

Abolishing a State Income Tax Is Easier Said Than Done

Conservatives in several states are hatching plans to take income taxes off the books. The question they must answer is whether they would replace lost revenues with other taxes or simply cut services.

Utah Governor Fumes as Arizona Considers New Highway Tolls

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: Arizona would like to make a toll road out of a remote 29-mile stretch of interstate highway between Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. Utah Governor Gary Herbert has blasted the scheme.

Missouri Special Session Collapses Over Jobs Bill

TODAY'S TAKE: A special legislative session in Missouri has dragged on for a month and a half without lawmakers reaching agreement on the economic development proposal that was the reason for their meeting.

Criticism May Ground Missouri 'Aerotropolis'

The dream of subsidizing a costly new air cargo hub at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis is coming up against skeptical state lawmakers, who see it as a potential boondoggle.

States Ask Colleges to Perform for Money

More and more states are doling out some of their higher education funds based on graduation rates and other measures of classroom achievement. The effort revives an earlier movement that had mixed success and raises some concerns about whether it will encourage professors to lower standards.

Gov. Nixon, State Officials Announce Study to Reduce Costs, Protect Public Safety Through Criminal Justice System

Gov. Jay Nixon was joined today by leaders from other branches of state government in announcing a bipartisan effort to develop recommendations to protect public safety by holding offenders accountable, while also containing costs within the criminal justice system.

Special Legislative Sessions to Focus on Jobs

ECONOMY & BUSINESS BEAT: Deficit reduction may be the talk in Washington, but job creation is the priority in the states. Connecticut and Missouri are planning special sessions on economic development.